Arunachal marks 40 years of statehood with call for unity and development

Itanagar marked the 40th Statehood Day of Arunachal Pradesh on February 20, with official ceremonies underscoring the state’s journey from a frontier region to a key strategic state in the Indian Union.

 

Governor Lt Gen K T Parnaik unfurled the national flag at the main function and addressed the gathering, highlighting the importance of balanced development, infrastructure growth and preservation of indigenous heritage. The Chief Minister also spoke, reviewing progress in sectors such as connectivity, education, healthcare and rural livelihoods.

 

Statehood Day commemorates February 20, 1987, when Arunachal Pradesh became the 24th state of India under the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986. The region was earlier known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). It was renamed Arunachal Pradesh and granted Union Territory status on January 20, 1972 before attaining full statehood fifteen years later.

 

The event, held at Indira Gandhi Park, drew public representatives, officials, security personnel and citizens. The day is observed as a gazetted holiday across the state.

 

Alongside the formal ceremony, various departments set up exhibition stalls displaying development initiatives and welfare schemes. Self-Help Groups and local entrepreneurs showcased handicrafts and agricultural products, reflecting efforts to strengthen grassroots economies.

 

Cultural performances formed a significant part of the programme, with traditional dances such as the Aka, Nocte and Tapu war dances presented to highlight the state’s ethnic diversity. Food stalls and a cultural night rounded off the celebrations.

 

Four decades after achieving statehood, the anniversary served both as a reminder of Arunachal Pradesh’s political evolution and as a platform to project its development priorities in a strategically sensitive border state.